Monday, June 02, 2008
Hartley elected Lord Mayor of Belfast
Tom Hartley of Sinn Fein has been elected the new Lord Mayor of Belfast, replacing Jim Rodgers. The new deputy mayor David Browne of the UUP abstained rather than vote for the DUP’s Diane Dodds citing “personality reasons.” He also pointed out that since Hartley received two more votes than Diane Dodds, his voting for her would not have made any difference. Mrs. Dodds has accused him of “opportunism.”
Unionist unity seems unlikely and even cooperation some way off.
Incidentally did Alliance vote for Hartley?
Turgon @ 07:06 PM
Mr Hartley added: “It will be my aim as Lord Mayor to help develop our city’s political culture, away from a legacy of division towards civic and cultural diversity — to turn what divides us into a diversity that enriches our city and the lives of its citizens..”
The political mould of Belfast was broken in 2002 when Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey became its first republican First Citizen and the political house did not fall down - as predicted by some hard-line unionists.
Turgon, that’s from
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0602/breaking54.htmInteresting to note the difference in emphasis between your post and the above.
Different strokes eh?
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 08:22 PMIncidentally did Alliance vote for Hartley?
Yes, otherwise he wouldn’t have been elected Lord Mayor. And as Reg Empey was ‘indisposed’, the Shinners didn’t actually need Davy Browne’s abstention but they got it and Davy got the Deputy Mayoralty in return.
Unionist unity seems unlikely and even cooperation some way off.
I don’t know, when it came to the crunch, every single Unionist rowed in behind Davy Browne’s candidature for Deputy Mayor. The DUP could have even feigned protest by putting up their own candidate in the first round before rowing in beind Browne on the second ballot. But at the end of the day the DUP vote for any Unionist ahead of anyone else even if they’re being shafted in the process.
I have no gripe with the Shinners voting for Davy Browne. It was smart politics on their part and they got a good deal. But the DUP were just pathetic, being led by the nose by one of the weakest Councillors in the City Hall.
The DUP - leadership that’s working… out exactly what they point of them being there is. And failing.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 08:35 PMTurgon - is your point being this is bad or good?
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 08:42 PMThe DUP - leadership that’s working… out exactly what they point of them being there is. And failing.
Posted by Sammy Morse on Jun 02, 2008 @ 10:35 PMI think you`l find, once again, it was the UUp who let the side down.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:07 PMOh Come on - Tom Hartley not exactly a combatant was he ? Here’s a chance to see real power sharing - looking forward to it.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:13 PMI think its a fair enough not to vote for Diane Dodds on personality reasons, she’d be bloody unbearable as Lord Mayor
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:16 PMTom Hartley has wide cultural interests and will make a great Mayor for all citizens of this great city. Dianne Dodds has worked consistently to build a niche for herself and makes a great Dianne Dodds.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:16 PMGiven that the unionists have a record of consistently supporting individuals linked to active loyalist paramilitary organizations which aren’t even on ceasefire, they’re hardly in a position to complain. And thank christ, for the first time, they didn’t make a song and dance out of it.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:16 PMI think Hartley will be a great mayor - well…as much as Mayors in Northern Ireland can be. Great cultural background. Respected all over town.
By the way - if I’d been David Browne, I’d have done the same thing. The UUP let no one but Dianne Dodds’ ego down.
Anyway. Let’s not get too riled over this one. It’s a mayor. In Northern Ireland.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:29 PMThis, surely, is where we at Slugger came in (scroll to the bottom)? Welcome to ‘2002 lite’!
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:32 PM#
Given that the unionists have a record of consistently supporting individuals linked to active loyalist paramilitary organizations which aren’t even on ceasefire, they’re hardly in a position to complain. And thank christ, for the first time, they didn’t make a song and dance out of it.
Posted by Comrade Stalin on Jun 02, 2008 @ 11:16 PM
At least alliance are consistent in supporting any terrorist scumbagPosted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:32 PM“A party spokesman revealed yesterday” (this is from some while back) “that the BBC had given him the names of two well-known republicans who had allegedly been warned by the police that they were under suspicion as informers. The Sinn Fein officer said when he approached the pair, they denied it. He named them as Tom Hartley, a former Belfast city councillor, and Richard “Dickie” Glenholmes, a former IRA operations officer.
Glenholmes served 10 years in jail in Britain for attempting to spring Brian Keenan, a former IRA chief of staff, from Brixton prison using a hijacked helicopter. Glenholmes’s daughter, Eibhlin (Evelyn), is one of the IRA “on-the-run” terrorist suspects for whom Sinn Fein is seeking freedom from prosecution.
Hartley, who was general secretary of Sinn Fein from 1984 to 1991, once led protests against the RUC. He has stepped back from a frontline position in Sinn Fein in recent years.”
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:34 PMI think you`l find, once again, it was the UUp who let the side down.
No, I think you’ll find that there hasn’t been a Unionist majority in Belfast for 11 years. The Ulster Raj is over. Get with the programme. Horsetrading is the name of the game in Stormont, in the City Hall and in town halls across NI. Being outmanouevred by Davy Brown is not something to boast about.
Given that the unionists have a record of consistently supporting individuals linked to active loyalist paramilitary organizations which aren’t even on ceasefire, they’re hardly in a position to complain.
Exactly, Stalin, before you even think about how many UUP and PUP councillors are up to their oxters in paramilitarism. Before you even think that both the UUP and DUP are in coalition with the Shinners at Stormont and still can’t bring themselves to let one of the more progressive SF Councillors wear a chain around old peoples homes and community festivals for a year. Instead they’d rather inflict us with things like this.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:38 PMBeing outmanouevred by Davy Brown is not something to boast about. -
Hardly outmanouered , he choose a republican over a Unionist and Sir Reg wasnt anywhere to be seen
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:40 PMne of the more progressive SF Councillors -
So hartley didnt support the murderer of innocent men, women and children carried out by the IRA? Very progresssive
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:43 PMObserver - one of the blokes who was critical in bringing it to an end. Or did you want it to continue?
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:45 PM#
Observer - one of the blokes who was critical in bringing it to an end. Or did you want it to continue?
Posted by Dewi on Jun 02, 2008 @ 11:45 PM
Hardly , the provos were a spent force, riddled with informers..who said hartley was a spy lolHe supported the shinners when the provos were at the worst. Nice and progressive mmmm see the alliance stand in awe of him!
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:47 PMAt least alliance are consistent in supporting any terrorist scumbag
Yup, those consistently anti-terrorist unionists who supported a UVF mayor when the UVF were butchering innocent Belfast people left right and centre!
Thursday 17 February 1994
Sean McParland (55), a Catholic civilian, was mortally wounded in a gun attack carried out by the Red Hand Commando (RHC), a cover name used by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), while he was baby-sitting his four grandchildren in north Belfast.Thursday 7 April 1994
Margaret Wright (31), a Protestant civilian, was badly beaten by a group of men, and then finally shot four times in the head, in a Loyalist band-hall in the Donegal Road area of Belfast. [She had been invited to the hall on the evening of 6 April 1994 and was then killed by Loyalists who believed that she was a Catholic.Thursday 28 April 1994
James Brown (47), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) at his shop, Garmoyle Street, Docks, Belfast.Tuesday 17 May 1994
Eamon Fox (42) and Gary Convie (24), both Catholic civilians, were shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) at a building site on North Queen Street.Wednesday 1 June 1994
The various anti-terrorist Unionist parties happily vote for the PUP’s Hugh Smyth as Lord Mayor, because we all know that people who shoot fenians aren’t really terrorists. Unless they’re the IRA.That’s just looking at Belfast - before we even think about the 76 year old grandmother the UVF offed in Coalisland, the 80-something man they butchered along with 5 others in Loughinislandm etc., etc. When it comes to terrorism, we can depend on Unionists to be absolutely consistent. Absolutely consistent in their double standards.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:51 PMThe various anti-terrorist Unionist parties happily vote for the PUP’s Hugh Smyth as Lord Mayor, because we all know that people who shoot fenians aren’t really terrorists. Unless they’re the IRA. -
No theyre all terrorist bastards UvF, IRA etc, shoot them all, or is that too extreme for the alliance?Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:55 PMAbsolutely consistent in their double standards.
Posted by Sammy Morse on Jun 02, 2008 @ 11:51 PMYou`re the one calling someone who supported the IRA at the height of its murdering camapaign a “progressive”
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 09:57 PMNo theyre all terrorist bastards UvF, IRA etc, shoot them all, or is that too extreme for the alliance?
Well, it was too extreme for the DUP and UUP who were happy to vote for the PUP at the height of the UVF’s murder campaign.
Maybe you should take your gripes up with them?
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 10:01 PMWell, it was too extreme for the DUP and UUP who were happy to vote for the PUP at the height of the UVF’s murder campaign.
Maybe you should take your gripes up with them?
Posted by Sammy Morse on Jun 03, 2008 @ 12:01 AMyou`re the one complaining about the UVF (although very silent on the provos i note)
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 10:02 PMobserver,
The point is reasonably straightforward. Alliance have never nominated an individual linked with an active paramilitary organization for public office. Unionism has, and has done so consistently throughout it’s own history. This is why your feigned opposition to terrorism rings hollow.
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 10:13 PMErm Comrade Stalin and Gerry Lynch,
The point is reasonably straightforward. Alliance have never nominated an individual linked with an active paramilitary organization for public officeSo the provos weren’t still killing people, robbing banks, smuggling et al after 2002?
Ha! God I love you wee ‘ums and your crazy ideas!
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 10:50 PMto percy (first post) - was that the same alex maskey who went on to lie about robert mccartney’s murder, who helped the sinn fein/ira leadership cover up the killing - is hartley in the same proud tradition of cross-community healing and political moderation!?? or are you just full of crap like all the chucks?
Posted by on Jun 02, 2008 @ 10:56 PM
